10 miles Archives -

10 miles before the downgraded blizzard

14. March 2017 · 5 comments · Categories: running · Tags: 10 miles, downgraded blizzard, half marathon training, high hamstring tendinopathy, running, snow, winter

Downgraded Blizzard! 🙂 I get such a kick out of weather lingo. Our blizzard watch was downgraded to a a winter storm warning. Basically after about 4 inches of snow it turned into sleet and rain. I feel bad for all the kids who were excited that they closed schools because this isn’t the kind of weather you can hang out in and build a snowman. The sleet pelts your face and HURTS. It’s 10am and I’ve only take 150 steps. If I plan to reach my 10k step goal I’ll have to get creative.

After taking 3 days off from running I got my long run in yesterday.

pre-run selfie

I wanted to give myself a 4th day of rest but knowing the snow was coming I figured better take advantage of dry ground. I set out at about 4pm. and was done before 6. And it was STILL DAYLIGHT! Sunset is now at 7pm thanks to Daylight Savings and that makes me very happy!

post-run selfie

The first 6 miles of the run felt really good. I could still feel my hamstrings a bit but overall felt good. I had pep in my step for the first time in a while and I was in a rhythm ticking off miles in the 10 minute range. I felt that emotional lift that long runs bring me. I was reminded how much I love distance running and once I’m not injured anymore I can get back to running more mileage.

Yassss!

And I’m obsessed with my latest iTunes download: Castle on the Hill by Ed Sheeran. That song makes me so happy. By mile 7 I had slowed down but my breathing was fine (Yay for my lungs! I think I’m finally done with being sick 4 weeks later). The last 2 miles were painful. And today, as I write this my hamstrings/hips/groin area are so sore. I’ll be ensuring that I take a few days off in between runs from now until the Love Run and continue to be diligent about my rehabbing. I know overall things are better. It takes a lot more mileage to overload my hamstrings than it used to.

I saw these Spring flowers just starting to appear yesterday and today they’re covered in 6 inches of snow!

And lots of seagulls kept me company. It was actually creepy quiet where I was running the first 3 miles and I got a weird vibe from a guy out in the brush by the water so I turned around and ran the rest of my miles along the busy roads. Better safe than sorry.

That’s the longest run I’ll do before the Love Run half at the end of this month. Well, I better go outside to keep shoveling my downgraded blizzard snow 😉

Do you ever feel unsafe when running?

Do you have to shovel today?

Do you have a song you’re obsessed with lately?

Long runs and long legs

16. April 2016 · 6 comments · Categories: running, running gear, Uncategorized · Tags: 10 miles, beach running, running, running capris

I ran 10 miles yesterday afternoon.

Sometimes it just makes sense to get the long run out of the way on a Friday so the weekend can be uninterrupted. I’m lucky to have the flexibility in my schedule right now. And today while Mr. SOTSS is getting his long run in, I’ll be chilling back at the house with his 10-year old. Teamwork!

I didn’t have it in me to do a long run in the neighborhood again so I took it to the beach and ran along the pretty trails alongside the ocean and through other parts of the national park area.

I love living on a coast.

quiet, secret trails

The weather was gorgeous. Bright blue skies and about 59 degrees. I started out a little too fast for a long run but it caught up with me. I did however bust out my fastest mile in the last mile for the win!

And here’s a great shot AND an outtake from my timer-camera pit-stop about midway into the run.

successful timer-camera action (and when do i retire this shirt? I’ve been wearing it for 3 years now! I get so attached to my marathon finisher’s shirts)

Unsuccessful timer-camera shot. LOL!

And no, unfortunately (or fortunately) I’m not the one with the long legs….Duncan is:

I need your help.

My running capris are getting really worn and I’m going to have to replace them soon. The ones in the pics above are not made anymore. They were the Brooks Essential Capri. Who’s got suggestions for good running capris?

They need to stay up,
not unravel along the seams,
have a zipper pocket in the back,
be closer to compression gear but not that tight and not come too far below my knee.

What’s the weather like by you this weekend? Ever do your long run on a Friday?

Lucky Me—10 miles

19. March 2016 · Write a comment · Categories: labradoodle, running, Uncategorized · Tags: 10 miles, double digit running, labradoodle, Lucky, running

Well, I planned to post on St. Paddy’s Day to tell you all how lucky I felt even though I’m not Irish but then I got requests from 3 clients for graphic design work. Ironically that’s part of why I feel so lucky. Freelance life can be scary and I’m still unsure how long I can make this last but for now I’ve got a few more months of bills covered thanks to these new assignments.In other non-running news, Duncan and I both got haircuts and blowouts…

I had a meeting in the city Wednesday morning with curls and got my haircut later that afternoon.

Curls to start the day…

And then after 15 minutes walking outside just before a thunderstorm the pin straight became loose waves.

a little humidity is all it takes

I also took Duncan to the vet. He’s got a lump on his chest that I was concerned about.

Chillin’ out in the waiting area at the vet

The groomer mentioned to me that it felt like it got bigger so I decided to have the vet tell me what it was. 90 percent chance it’s a benign fatty tumor called a lipoma. We’ll check it again in May when he goes for some routine shots. Vet said he would biopsy it if it got larger. Needless to say after the good news I bought him a toy for waiting almost an hour in the waiting room at the vet’s.

So after my lucky 11:11 paced run last Tuesday, I ran again on Thursday and boy was I happy when my 10:40 pace felt relatively easy.

And today I got in my long run which was the first double digit run I’ve completed since running the NYC Marathon last November!

Enjoying the last of the blowout.

Speaking of “lasts” this just might be the last of winter running gear days for me

Yay! Double digits!

It was in the 30s but the Daffodils have already sprung up. We might get snow tomorrow. Hopefully they will survive

The first 5 miles were fine but the second 5 were really hard. I had an attitude adjustment though and didn’t beat myself up over it. Frankly this SHOULD feel hard. It’s been 5 months since I ran double digits. I’ve lost a lot of long-distance fitness through the winter and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I was busy skiing, snow tubing, snow shoeing, sledding, hiking and running shorter distances this winter. But now I’m ready for my Spring races, I’m ready to build up my mileage.

Well I better sign off. I’m headed out to see Mr. SOTSS and his family. His daughter is performing with her choral group in a concert. Have a great weekend and enjoy these adorable photos of Duncan before you go…

stretch

stole my pillow

not amused

When he looks at me like this i melt

Fresh from the groomer

Are you excited for Spring? Have any Spring races on your calendar? Doing anything fun this weekend?